Southpaw is the brainstorm of Jeff Olmstead & Jay Grimes to bring classic/southern rock back with a vengeance. Not strangers to the Central Florida music scene, Jeff & Jay both knew what they wanted to do with a band of seasoned musicians ... make some music that would get everyone on their feet and ready to rock & roll. Take the music & lyrics written by this dynamic duo and you have mix of southern rock at it's finest with a heavy edge. Starting in early 2006, after going through various musicians and harmony singers Southpaw has finally conceived a band of true professionals and found their niche. Bringing John Little, an excellent bass player and phenomenal backing vocalist into the mix and adding Marcus Dawn with his picky percussion, known for playing drums with technical taste their music is now being played in the groove that they have been looking for and not being played like your everyday garage band. This band is not about just "winging it" for the money. When they get paid they like to know that they earned it! After playing for 30 years Jeff and Jay get very frustrated when there are any problems with sound, musicians, etc. and do not accept any mistakes. Southpaw likes to take their music to the next level and they are extremely excited to bring this diversified band to you and leave knowing they made a statement so people will remember the name SOUTHPAW!
JEFF OLMSTEAD : Lead Vocals
This wide ranged trained vocalist has been singing, writing music and playing guitar for 34 years. Jeff is an exciting front man who enjoys performing and having a good time and watching peoples eyes open when music is played at it's finest. This serious musician was in several of the top bands like Blue Rooster, Majesty, Mariha, Forgiven, Chance, to name a few throughout the Florida 80's Metal scene, with the best of those bands Resistance, including none other than Jay Grimes as guitar player. He has shared a stage with some well known bands such as Kix, Nazareth, Dokken, Confederate Railroad & Credence Clearwater Rival. Having recently moved back to Brevard County from the Naples area and has gone back to the roots of music, which is southern and classic in your face rock. Now rejoined with Jay, he is looking forward to making their presence known in the music scene so you can judge for yourself.
Influences - Lou Graham, Aerosmith, Queensryche, Judist Priest, Iron Maiden
JAY GRIMES : Lead Guitar/Rythym
A life long Florida resident, Jay cut his musical teeth playing late 70's southern guitar rock. In the late 80's to 90's he went on to explore many different styles of music ranging any were from extreme metal to acoustic ballads lending his talent to many of the top circuit bands throughout Central Florida. In the mid 2000's we find jay returning to his southern rock roots. Known for his heavy guitar sound and fluid melodic soloing, Jay stands poised to be a major contender once again on the Central Florida rock scene.
Influences - Molly Hatchet, ZZ Top, Stranger and Ted Nugent
JOHN LITTLE: Bass & Vocals
At an early age music became Dana's calling and he excelled at every aspect of music throughout school. The winner of many prestigious music awards after high school Dana formed many different bands performing all over Florida. This humble yet talented musician with his driving bass sound and strong vocals has now landed him a main spot with Southpaw.
Influences -Lynard Skynard, 38 Special, Santana, YES, Emerson Lake & Palmer
MARCUS DAWN: Percussion
Although raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Marcus has made his home in Florida for the past 3 decades. Marcus started playing music on the west coast of Florida, in the Tampa/St Pete area. A few years later, Mark found his way across the state to the city of Melbourne where he has been gigging up and down Brevard County. Marcus has played with a number of bands including Authorized Personnel, Backseat, Soundtrax, Five Oclock Charlie, Little Miss Muffet, and Tru Bluez. Throughout his musical career, Marcus has taken breaks from playing live music, but has always returned to it for the purest of motives - si mply because he loves it. Marcus likes to get inside every riff of a song and play each beat as if it were a melody; forceful at times, yet passionate at others. Nothing else matters, right?
Influences - YES, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Terry Bozzio of Frank Zappa
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